LongTube Headers... :D

foxmustangman · Jan 9, 2008

So a guy here in town offered to sell me some long tubes and a pro-chamber mid-pipe for pretty cheap.

My question is, how easy is it to switch from shorty's to longtubes, rather than just shorty's ---->shortys?

mustangjoe87 · Jan 9, 2008

What kinda of long tubes? They are about the same amount of work most of the time although, I have had to loosen motor mounts and shift the engine with a cherry picker before (For fast swap or extremely close clearance cases).

1991notchbackLX · Jan 9, 2008

it's defiitely a PITA, the driver side typically goes in pretty easily but the motor has to come off the mounts and be jacked up on the passenger side to get that side in... oh and also be prepared to get a new smaller high torque ministarter because the long tubes will burn out your stock starter in a day or two from the excessive heat, and be sure to get new (longer) 3/8" by 1" header bolts and use lock tite on them or they'll back out every few days, and you dont wanna be changing gaskets every few days, could get a little costly

oh yeah and most of the time your steering column will rub on the driver side

bloopbloob · Jan 9, 2008

1991notchbackLX said:
it's defiitely a PITA, the driver side typically goes in pretty easily but the motor has to come off the mounts and be jacked up on the passenger side to get that side in... oh and also be prepared to get a new smaller high torque ministarter because the long tubes will burn out your stock starter in a day or two from the excessive heat, and be sure to get new (longer) 3/8" by 1" header bolts and use lock tite on them or they'll back out every few days, and you dont wanna be changing gaskets every few days, could get a little costly

oh yeah and most of the time your steering column will rub on the driver side

don't let a couple comments like this scare you away from them. some people have apparently had issues, but i didn't.

i didn't have any of these problems with mine. the motor had to be lifted a bit on the passenger side. i have had my LT's for about 7 months now with the stock starter, and it's still doing fine. i have no lock-tite on my header bolts, have checked and re-checked, but none of them have backed out even a tiny bit. i have plenty of clearance with my steering shaft, probably close to an inch....
i have the single flange design - bbk 1 5/8". my only complaint is how much they quietened down the exhaust note.

foxmustangman · Jan 9, 2008

Cool thanks. I don't know who makes them yet, but I think they may be mac (are they the only ones who make the pro-chamber?)

bloopbloob · Jan 10, 2008

i should add that i didn't notice any real power gains, even though i went from stock headers & crossover (gutted cats) to the LT's, with an off-road x pipe.... but i'm sure it didn't hurt performance, and will really help once i finally get around to the big mods....

leroy93lx · Jan 10, 2008

Yep Mac makes the Prochamber. The longtubes and prochamber sound great together also. Are they the aod specific longtubes? If they are Mac you will need to find out.

stykthyn · Jan 10, 2008

oooh yeah, if you have an AOD you will most likely have clearance issues.

25thmustang · Jan 10, 2008

I have run my Mac LTs for a few years now (well probably 5 or so). Got them used and although they take some to get in and out, they are worth it. I lose header bolts every now and then, but it was WAY worse with the Mac shorties I had before. The LT's coupled with a Prochamber made a bunch more power than the shorties and a Mac catted H. With just that change and underdrives the car went from 13.89 @ 98 to a 13.21 @ 101. Same track similar conditions a few months apart.

I run those same long tubes now, that have to be 8+ years old (I bought them well used) and although they aren't pretty they do their job.

I also run a stock starter, which has never given me an issue, but the steering shaft rubs all over the header. I have learned to live with it, but it does rub, even with new motor mounts! No ground clearance issues.

PUNISHER RACING · Jan 10, 2008

Same problem here with the Macs even with a Flaming River shaft they still rubbed, so I cut a piece of 3/8 strap and put under motor mount. That got the motor up a bit on that side and stop shaft from rubbing. They are a pain to get to the bolt though but mine are 1 3/4 Longtubes. They sound awesome with the chamber and next to gears made the most vast improvement in S.O.T.P feel!!

my2foxes · Jan 10, 2008

I have 8 year old mac long tubes on my 88gt ... the pass. side takes some time to get in , have a friend help you and as others have said loosen the motor mount and lift the engine a lil. I have the stock starter with no issues and I have put about 50k on the car since then . No rubbing on my steering shaft either , but a friend of mine with a 93gt had some issues with rubbing . ( ford tolerances??)
my only regret is I wish I would have spent the $$ for the ceramic coating... maybe I will have them powdercoated when I pull the motor this time.

like 25th I lose a header bolt now and again ....

5spd GT · Jan 10, 2008

I gained 1.3 mph replacing my bottomend with 160,000+, to a new 306 with a bit more compression, ported lower intake to match the AFR 165 heads, and added brand new longtubes over shorties.

The cats were already off on the old set-up, and I attribute most of my gains to the ported lower and 306, not the longtubes.

Take that for what you will

By the way, the my old shorties were dented in, in a few spots, and the old long h-pipe on one side was crunched to nearly half it's diamater (pothole), and that is all it gained.

Longtubes do sound better though

DMAN302 · Jan 10, 2008

I really don't think your going to be able to install the headers unless they are automatic trans specific.

foxmustangman · Jan 10, 2008

Yeah, I'll ask him. Is it Mac's that only have AOD clearance issues, or is it most long-tubes?

85_SS_302_Coupe · Jan 10, 2008

You can run automatic headers with a 5 speed, but not the other way around. When i put mine on i had to unbolt both motor mounts and jack up the front of the engine all the way until the trans was touching the firewall. Also i don't recall which side is which but one side goes in from the engine bay and the other goes in from under the car. I'm also running a stock replacement starter and i've never had any issues with it.

I think the best part of having full lengths aside from any performance gains is how easy it makes it to install/change the mid pipe.

5spd GT · Jan 10, 2008

Some longtube configurations can be a problem when trying to remove transmissions.

carbed87 · Jan 10, 2008

1991notchbackLX said:
it's defiitely a PITA, the driver side typically goes in pretty easily but the motor has to come off the mounts and be jacked up on the passenger side to get that side in... oh and also be prepared to get a new smaller high torque ministarter because the long tubes will burn out your stock starter in a day or two from the excessive heat, and be sure to get new (longer) 3/8" by 1" header bolts and use lock tite on them or they'll back out every few days, and you dont wanna be changing gaskets every few days, could get a little costly

oh yeah and most of the time your steering column will rub on the driver side

lol do you even have LT's, not only has my stock starter been fine, i've actually removed it without loosening the headerbolts. i do need to tighten the bolts up about every 6 months though.

if you already have shorties, then i wouldn't do it. if all you have is stock equipment then i say go for it.

ThePonyKid50 · Jan 10, 2008

anyone know of a company that makes Stainless LT's? PM me cuz im hardly on this site, thanks

85_SS_302_Coupe · Jan 10, 2008

I can get my starter in and out in 5 minutes

foxmustangman · Jan 10, 2008

carbed87 said:
if you already have shorties, then i wouldn't do it. if all you have is stock equipment then i say go for it.

I was going to do just new shorty's for replacement, but this is such a good deal, AND they're LT's...I can't pass it up.

LongTube Headers... :D

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